Hybrid solar lighting is the new buzzword in the energy sector. Unlike standard solar lights, hybrid solar lighting is relatively new and uses a combination of technologies. Conventional solar lights use solar energy and convert it into electrical energy to light the bulb. In the newer version, the sunlight is mirrored indoors using a collector and optical light cables. When there is enough sunlight, there is no electricity used to power the bulbs. On a not-so-sunny day, the electricity generated by the solar energy is used to light the bulbs.
Hybrid solar lighting technology has been in use for some years now but because of the prohibitively high cost it was relatively unheard of. Solar lights are more affordable and hence they took off faster. However, with much technological advancement taking place in the recent past, hybrid solar lighting now looks to be more attractive; at least for commercial uses. The cost has come down with the global positioning system becoming more affordable and getting the computer accessories manufactured at cheaper price.
The hybrid solar system works in a unique manner. The core part of the lighting system is the light collector, which receives and collects the sunlight. Needless to mention, the collector is large and round in shape to enable maximum surface area for the sunlight to fall upon. For those of you who have not seen a solar light collector, it looks similar to a satellite TV dish except that it is larger in size. The collector cells or surfaces are all mirrored to enhance the collection efforts.
The collectors used in hybrid solar lighting systems have an interface with the global positioning system. The GPS helps in tracking the sun from sunrise to sunset. The hybrid solar lighting system works on the simple principle to capture as much sunlight as possible. In order to maximize the capturing, the sunlight is diverted to the center of the dish through mirroring. At the center of the dish, there are numerous optical cables ready to gather the sunrays. A filter is also provided to filter off the harmful UV rays present in the sunlight.
The captured sun rays pass through the optical fiber provided and is taken to the inner parts of the building. The receptor dish is positioned at the roof of the building. As the light rays pass through the optical cable, the intensity decreases and hence it is important to capture much more light than what is required for lighting the building. As light travels through the optical cables, there are special fixtures that diffuse the sunlight into all directions. The fixture resembles a conventional incandescent bulb but the difference is that the light coming through the fixtures of the hybrid solar lighting system is direct sunlight. There are also fixtures that can detect the position of the sun. When the intensity of the sunrays diminishes (for example, when the sun hides behind the clouds), these sensors will prompt the lighting fixture to derive power from electricity. The intelligent functioning of the lighting system ensures that there is a constant supply of light inside the building.
There are many advantages to hybrid solar lighting. Solar lights became popular because they helped in keeping the environment green. In hybrid lighting, unlike solar lights, there is no change in energy form. Direct sunlight is used for lighting. This helps in reducing the heat produced from light bulbs, especially when compared to incandescent bulbs. Also when compared to fluorescent lights, the hybrid lights produce a full spectrum of light. The full spectrum light is better for the human eye it is actually the sunlight, which is channeled indoors. Colors are seen better when viewed in full spectrum eye and reduces the stress on human eyes.
Solar lights use photovoltaic cells to convert solar energy into electrical energy. These cells are capable of converting only 15 percent of the solar energy into electricity whereas the hybrid solar lighting system uses almost 50 percent of the sunlight falling on the collector dish. This definitely provides for a better efficient system since there is maximum utilization of energy. By providing a single collector of four feet size, an area of 10,000 square feet can be lit up. Since the heat produced is lesser, there is also lesser use of air conditioning system inside the building, which again goes on to conserving energy.
The downside of hybrid solar lighting system is that it can currently be used for single story buildings only. In addition, since it is still expensive, it is more viable for commercial uses rather than for residential purposes. Lot of research is still happening and there is a positive trend in the use of renewable sources of energy. Considering the benefits and the market trend, one can safely assume that hybrid solar lighting is the future of solar lights.
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January 24, 2010 at 1:33 pm
There are many reasons why solar yard lights are a good idea in general. There are also reasons why solar lights are right for you.
Solar lights are the most economical lighting system that you can buy. In fact, this is the main reason why most people choose them. As the cost of energy is consistently on the rise, everyone is looking for more affordable options. There is nothing more affordable than solar lights. As solar lights operate from natural sunlight, there is no extra cost for you. The natural sunlight during the daytime provides the power for solar lights to work. They do not require electricity or gas. As this power is generated without any external energy source, your energy bills will be much lower. Solar lights are the most economical form of outdoor lighting that you can find anywhere.
A second important consideration is that solar yard lights will not use up other energy resources. As electrical power and gas power are not needed, using solar light means that you will be doing your part to ensure that these resources are not depleted.
Solar lights are also environmentally friendly. Unlike electric-powered lights and gas-powered lights which can flood your yard and the night sky with too much bright light, they will provide just the right amount of lighting that you need.
Some people hesitate in trying solar yard lights because they feel that they are not effective, are difficult to install, or will not look good in their yards. Fortunately, none of these misconceptions are based in fact. A few points about solar yard lights will convince you that they are the right product for you.
You may be surprised with how much light can be generated from the daytime sunlight. While you do not want lighting that is overly bright, you also do not want dim light that is essentially useless. Your solar lights will receive just the right amount of power to make them completely effective. Whether you wish to place them near your patio so you can enjoy evenings outside, or use them to illuminate your driveway for safety, you will find that they do the job even better than you expected.
Second, you will find your new solar yard lights delightfully easy to install. You will not need to waste money hiring a handyman to do it. You can have your lights properly installed and in great working order in no time at all. It is an easy, do it yourself project which you will enjoy.
Solar yard lights also look great. There are so many different styles available that it will be easy to find the style best suited to your needs. Whether you are looking for something understated, sophisticated, to blend in with the natural environment or to provide a bold contrast, there is one available for you.
Solar yard lighting is both attractive and practical. When your yard, driveway, and walkway are lit with just the right amount of lighting, your property is much safer. Yard lighting helps in avoiding unwanted prowlers, and helps your family and guests to avoid unnecessary accidents. Driving, walking, and playing are all safer at night when your yard is well-lit.
While safety is an important factor, the nice appearance of solar yard lighting is a positive feature as well. When your yard is nicely lit with the gentle illumination from solar yard lights, your entire property will be a showcase of beauty.
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why you should consider adding solar yard lights to your home. They are the best choice for outdoor lighting available today.
Browse the internet for solar lights and you will find an endless supply of information on solar yard lights, solar security lights, string lights, shed lights, etc. Solar lights have added a completely new dimension to ecologically sound lighting for all kinds of residential and commercial applications. Fairly recently, we have even began to see them in use by municipalities to enhance public safety.
The most common use for solar lighting in this area is for street lights. Many cities around the United States and around the world have begun replacing standard street lights with solar versions. Not only do they reduce the municipality’s energy usage, but solar street lights require less maintenance than the traditional styles.
Leading the way for solar lighting in the public safety sector is a company called Silicon Constellations, out of Santa Clara, California. They specialize in wireless, solar crosswalk lights. Using their solar road markers, wireless controllers, advanced warning signs and beacons, they can create the perfect configuration for any roadway crosswalk.
Picture this: You come to a busy street corner that you would like to cross. You press a “walk” button at the intersection. Warning beacons flash to let oncoming traffic know that they need to yield to you; road marker lights along the crosswalk light and flash and a yellow “pedestrian crossing” sign lights up as well. There is no doubt in the minds of the nearby motorists as to your intentions. You can now safely cross the street with little concern about not being seen.
The backbone of their system is their “LumiStar” road marker light. This is a bidirectional solar powered marker light that is installed in the pavement. They are very bright and have a line of sight visibility of a minimum of 1,000 feet. They are equipped with solar panels that charge their internal batteries, are completely wireless, and are activated by 2.4 GHz frequency controller. A fully charged battery holds enough charge to activate the lights for 30-60 days, depending upon the amount of usage.
The LumiSign™ XB Warning Sign is an advanced pedestrian crossing sign that can be controlled by the same controller as the road markers and can be placed up to 1000 feet away from the crosswalk. It is also solar powered and can be set up to flash in sync with the roadway markers.
Silicon Constellations also offers a solar warning beacon as part of their arsenal. Their warning beacon comes in two basic designs: single and dual lamp designs. The single lamp design can be set to sync with the road markers and warning sign or to flash with any pattern you may wish. The dual lamp design can be programmed for alternate flashing, which sends a much more powerful message to nearby motorists.
The heart of the system is the controller. The activator/controller from Silicon Constellations is a completely self contained unit. Like the rest of the system, it is solar powered and wireless. The controller is usually pole mounted, but it can be mounted to a wall in situations where that might be more practical. It is weather proof, yet the internal mechanisms are easily accessible for maintenance. The unit can control the other parts of the system up to 1000 feet away (line of sight) and is maintenance free for a minimum of five years.
All in all, the system is very reliable, and since it is solar powered, it is extremely energy efficient. Since each piece is self contained and wireless, there is very little construction or demolition involved in installation. If fact, most configurations can be installed in as little as one day. Using these components, the possible configurations are almost endless and everything is completely programmable. They even offer active pedestrian detection and voice modules.
There is no doubt that solar lights are a great addition to the public safety sector. As solar technology continues to grow, we will see even more uses for municipal solar lighting.
For more information about Silicon Constellations and their solar crosswalk lighting solutions, you can visit their website at www.silicon-constellations.com.
Here is a quick video I made of their system in action:
In this article, I wanted to go a little further in depth into hybrid solar lighting. My first article can be found under Hybrid Solar Lighting Technology.
